The Mayor and Board of Commissioners for the Town of Blowing Rock met in regular session on Tuesday, March 11, 2003 at 7:00 p.m. Present were Mayor J.B. Lawrence, Commissioners Barbara Ball, Terry Lentz, Keith Tester, Rita Wiseman, and David Wray. Also present were Town Manager Scott Hildebran, Town Attorney Allen Moseley, Town

Engineer Marion Rothrock and Assistant Town Clerk Sharon Greene. Other staff members attending were Director of Public Works Johnny Lentz, Police Chief Owen Tolbert, Planning Director Kevin Rothrock, Building Inspector John Warren, and Recreation Director Kim Oberle.

Mayor Lawrence called the meeting to order and recognized the Town on its 114^th birthday celebrated on March 11^th.

Upon motion of Mrs. Ball, and seconded by Mr. Tester, Council voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday, February 11, 2003 and special meeting minutes on Monday, February 24 and Tuesday, February 25, 2003.

1. Community Arts Building – CUP #1999-04 Amendment

Representatives from the Community Art Center requested a minor amendment to their conditional use permit. The request was to increase the overall height of the stage house from 58 feet to 64 feet, and to remove the proposed porte-cochere at the building entrance, located on Valley Boulevard in the general business district. After hearing from the Planning Director Kevin Rothrock, concerning this amendment, Council member Lentz asked how he had arrived at this being a minor amendment. He felt these amendments had drastically changed the appearance of the building.

Kim Johnson a representative from the Community Arts Center Foundation stated that without these amendments, the plans for the Community Art Center would not be suitable for their needs. She felt she should have been informed this would be considered a major amendment.

All members of the Council voiced their dissatisfaction with the decision to bring this before them without first going through the proper channels appropriate for major amendments. After coming to this conclusion, Mayor Lawrence closed the public hearing.

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A motion was made by Mr. Wray to send this project back to the Planning Board as a major amendment. Mr. Lentz seconded his motion, and all Council members unanimously agreed.

2. Chetola Maintenance Building - Amendment to "Ponds" CUP #2003-01

Mr. Kent Tarbutton, owner of Chetola Resort, requested an amendment be made to the previously approved conditional use permit for the Ponds condominium project to construct a 1560 square foot maintenance building on the southeast corner of the property, adjacent to Booker Street.

After hearing from Planning Director Rothrock, Mr. Lentz made a motion to close the public hearing and Ms. Wiseman seconded it.

Mr. Wray made the motion to approve Conditional Use Permit #2003-01 as presented. Ms. Wiseman seconded this motion, all members unanimously agreed.

Mayor Lawrence asked if there were other nominations for board appointment at the present time. There were no further nominations, and Town Manager Hildebran reviewed a list of proposed appointments as proposed at the retreat. The Planning Board members re-appointed were Jim West, Bill Parker and Dennis Quinn for three-year terms ending in 2006. Lisle Snyder was re-appointed to the Board of Adjustment for a three-year term and Cullie Tarleton was appointed as alternate member of that board for a three-year term. David Greene was re-appointed to the ABC Board for a term ending in 2006. The motion to accept these appointments was made by Mr. Lentz and seconded by Mrs. Ball. All members voted in favor of the motion.

1. Sign Amortization

The current sign ordinance was adopted in 1997 with an amortization period of five years that would eliminate nonconforming signs by March 11, 2002. Due to personnel changes, an inventory of nonconforming signs had not been compiled by March 2002. An extension of the deadline for one year to March 11, 2003 was given. Planning Department staff developed a list of nonconforming signs and informed business owners of the ordinance requirement. In November 2002, all businesses with nonconforming signs were notified of signs in violation and measures needed to bring them into compliance.

After reviewing the nonconforming list, Ms. Wiseman made a motion for extending application and fee deadlines to March 31, 2003 and if not in compliance with the code, the nonconforming sign would need to be removed. Mrs. Ball seconded that motion, the Council unanimously agreed.

2. Town Center District – Moratorium Extension

During a special meeting in February, Council discussed extending the 90-day moratorium on construction in the Central Business District. The moratorium was adopted on December 10, 2002 and expired on March 11, 2003. Mr. Tester made the motion to extend the moratorium for 120 days and to obtain outside help with the Downtown Plan for the Town Center District. Mrs. Ball seconded his motion with unanimous approval from Council.

1. ARC – Resolution

The Appalachian Regional Commission requested that Council adopt a resolution in support of their program. Mr. Lentz made a motion to adopt this resolution and was seconded by Mrs. Ball. All members were in favor.

Appalachian Regional Commission Resolution Attached as Exhibit B.

 

2. Red Cross – Proclamation

The American Red Cross requested that a proclamation be approved declaring March 2003 as American Red Cross Month. A motion was made by Ms. Wiseman and seconded by Mr. Wray in favor of passing this proclamation. All Council members unanimously approved.

American Red Cross Proclamation Attached as Exhibit C

3. Financing Proposal

The Town solicited proposals from area banks to finance the acquisition of capital equipment approved in the FY 2002-03 Budget for the Recreation Department and Public

Works Department. First Union/Wachovia had the lowest interest rate at 3.13% fixed for a 3-year agreement and 4.24% fixed for a 6-year agreement. Mr. Tester made a motion to move forward with this agreement, seconded by Mrs. Ball. Council unanimously approved.

The Parks and Recreation 8-week day camp program costs approximately $52,750, with salaries making up almost 65% of the total each year to operate. This program can accommodate up to 70 participants each week.

Revenues for the program come from registration fees, which currently is $40/$50 for in-town residents and $80/$95 for out-of-town participants. Approximately 70-75% of the camp participants are from outside Blowing Rock. The revenue total is around $37,500 with the remaining $15,300 from General Fund.

Mr. Wray made a motion to increase non-resident fees from $80/$95 to $95/$115, for in-town rates to remain the same at $40/50, and for children and grandchildren of Blowing Rock residents and town employees be allowed to participate at in-town rates. Mrs. Ball seconded his motion, with unanimous approval of Council.

A rate increase was discussed for cemetery plots in Woodlawn Cemetery. Due to the fast rate of sales and the cost of maintenance of the cemetery, Council felt the rates should be increased from $600 per plot for out-of-town residents to $1250. Grave openings would be increased to $425 on weekdays and $450 on weekends. In-town residents would be charged $250 per plot, with grave opening fees remaining the same: $225 weekdays, and $275 on weekends. Ms. Wiseman made a motion to adopt the increased rates, and the motion was seconded by Mr. Lentz. Council unanimously agreed.

6. Rainbow Center – Fee Waiver Request

The Rainbow Center, an organization for abused or neglected children requested their water availability fees of $600, sewer fees of $600 and building fees in the amount of $1355 for a total of $$2,555 to be waived due to their non-profit status. After some discussion by Council and the town manager, a motion was made by Mr. Lentz to deny this request until a standard waiver policy for non-profit organizations could be developed. Mrs. Ball seconded this motion. All members were in favor.

7. Personnel Policy Amendments

After reviewing the Town Personnel Policy Mr. Hildebran recommended that Council consider amending the policy in four areas, Cellular phones, Incentive Certification Pay,

Longevity Pay and Service Award Bonuses. These items are in need of a standard operating policy. The amendments were recommended as follows:

1. Cellular Phones: The Town would provide a stipend of $15.00 per month to non-public safety departments for employees who received phones. They would be responsible for the remainder of their monthly bill. If warranted, the Town would supply phones to public safety personnel, such as police department and fire and rescue.
2. Incentive Certification Pay: Employees who successfully complete a pre-approved class pertaining to his/her job would receive a $250 annual pay increase.
3. Longevity Pay: A long standing personnel policy was omitted from the written personnel policy. Longevity pay would be paid to each employee as follows:

1 year – 1%

2 year – 2%

3 year – 3%

4 year – 4%

5 years or more 5%

Maximum of $800

4. Service Award Bonus: An amendment would be made to another longstanding

Ms. Wiseman made the motion to amend the personnel policy as presented. Mr. Tester seconded her motion, with all members in favor.

6. Emergency Services Study

A recommendation was made for the League of Municipalities to conduct a comprehensive study of the Town of Blowing Rock Emergency Services Department. The Emergency Services Risk Assessment study would include the following: Organization and Compensation Structure, Emergency Service/Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Level of Service (including response times), Training, Apparatus, and Equipment, Operational Assessment, and County Fire/Rescue Districts. Sherman Pickard, former Fire Chief of Raleigh, NC, would conduct the study, and the cost should not exceed $10,000. Ms. Ball recommended this study be done with a second to the motion from Mr. Tester. Council unanimously approved.

Memorandum of Agreement Attached at Exhibit F

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7. Surplus Property Resolution

A resolution was presented to Council authorizing an appropriate Town Official to dispose of personal property valued less that $5,000 through use of informal procedure to obtain fair market value per N.C.G.S. 160A-266(c). Mr. Lentz made a motion for Council to accept the resolution to dispose of Christmas decorations, computer equipment, and storage building as surplus property. Mrs. Ball seconded the motion, with unanimous approval from all members.

Regarding the engineer’s report given by Marion Rothrock, Council discussed the status of several on-going projects within the town.

Planning & Zoning Administrative Assistant Sonya Long was recognized for being voted as President of the Blowing Rock Women’s Club.

A work session between Council and Department Heads from certain departments was scheduled for Monday, April 7, 2003 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

There was no further business, and Mayor Lawrence adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m.

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Mayor J.B. Lawrence

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Sharon H. Greene, Assistant Town Clerk